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Collegian Weekly: Different ideas should prevail at CCA
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: Opinion
Usually, the Center for Constructive Alternatives could just as easily be the Center for Constructive Agreement.
But this CCA, "Free Markets and Politics Today," bucked the monotony of like-minded speakers by bringing in William Galston, a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution.
Galston's presence relieved the tepid rehashing of easily-repeatable ideas. CCAs are most effective in catalyzing thought when they aim for a gnashing of ideas.
Galston spoke Monday, proclaiming he was a liberal. He said liberals must reclaim the use of the word "freedom," and he used FDR's four freedoms speech. He was smart, logical, and presented arguments about the democratic party and big government.
Galston's engaging speech should set a precedent for Hillsdale CCAs, which in the past have collected a hodge-podge of conservative elite. Those speakers have generally been good, but they have basically agreed.
But a speaker who thinks differently - and still thinks, unlike some would believe of a liberal - pushes the listener to process the subject more thoroughly.
By brining in a speaker of Galston's caliber, we avoid setting up a straw man to easily pummel aside in the name of Conservatism and Western Values. Galston and other reasonable thinkers who disagree with us force us to face a genuine intellectual argument.
If we are up to the challenge, we gain sometimes more than we would from listening to someone of the same opinion.
Galston's speech was especially pertinent. As the CCA Web site points out, Bush has, in many ways, embraced big government, and the Democrats control Congress. So even if we don't agree with big government, we must understand it, not demonize it.
The more well-thought disagreement in future CCAs, the better.
But this CCA, "Free Markets and Politics Today," bucked the monotony of like-minded speakers by bringing in William Galston, a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution.
Galston's presence relieved the tepid rehashing of easily-repeatable ideas. CCAs are most effective in catalyzing thought when they aim for a gnashing of ideas.
Galston spoke Monday, proclaiming he was a liberal. He said liberals must reclaim the use of the word "freedom," and he used FDR's four freedoms speech. He was smart, logical, and presented arguments about the democratic party and big government.
Galston's engaging speech should set a precedent for Hillsdale CCAs, which in the past have collected a hodge-podge of conservative elite. Those speakers have generally been good, but they have basically agreed.
But a speaker who thinks differently - and still thinks, unlike some would believe of a liberal - pushes the listener to process the subject more thoroughly.
By brining in a speaker of Galston's caliber, we avoid setting up a straw man to easily pummel aside in the name of Conservatism and Western Values. Galston and other reasonable thinkers who disagree with us force us to face a genuine intellectual argument.
If we are up to the challenge, we gain sometimes more than we would from listening to someone of the same opinion.
Galston's speech was especially pertinent. As the CCA Web site points out, Bush has, in many ways, embraced big government, and the Democrats control Congress. So even if we don't agree with big government, we must understand it, not demonize it.
The more well-thought disagreement in future CCAs, the better.
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